ARLINGTON, Tex. - Lance Day struck out a season-high 11 batters in 7.0 innings and UT Arlington scored seven runs in the first two innings in its 8-3 win over McNeese State on Friday night at Clay Gould Ballpark.

Chad Comer had three RBI for the Mavericks and eight starters notched at least one hit.

Day did the rest in picking up his third win of the season.

"I thought Lance really seized the momentum for us today when he went out there pumping strikes on such a windy day," UTA coach Darin Thomas said. "He struck out the side and then we were able to get some runs early."

Day held the Cowboys (17-19, 7-9) to three runs, two of which were earned, in his 7.0 innings of work. He gave up eight hits and walked one.

The junior struck out the side in the first and the third, striking out at least one hitter in each of his first 6.0 innings.

Staked to a big lead, Day went straight after the McNeese hitters.

"After I gave up a couple runs in the fourth, (pitching coach Jay) Sirianni just came out and said I still needed to pitch like it was a one-run game," Day said. "I did and I settled down and was able to get out of the inning."

Day gave up another run in the seventh before closing out the inning and turning it over to Michael Oberto, who fired 2.0 scoreless innings to seal the game.

Already leading 2-0, UT Arlington opened the floodgates in the second with a five-run frame, highlighted by Ryan Walker's two-run double.